Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

"You did well today. A few things didn't go as planned, but you never gave up. Good job."
After issuing a few orders and informing everyone that the danger had passed, one of the first things Sandora did during her off time was ask Vahn to reward her. She didn't feel like she had earned it, but one of the things Vahn had taught her during their time together was that she simply didn't need to. People were allowed to be a little selfish when it came to things like love and attaining happiness.
While lying atop Vahn and enjoying his caress, Sandora asked, "When do you want to get married? A lot of people were asking me about it..."
"Mmm...after all the time we've spent together, it feels like we're already married. I'm ready and willing the moment you are..."
Reading a little too much into Vahn's words, or at least pretending to, a sultry smile that didn't quite suit her presently dainty figure developed across Sandora's face as she said, "Don't tempt me..."
Showing no apprehensions to Sandora's current form, Vahn gave her butt a firm squeeze without further remark. After the 'day' he had experienced, he was down for just about anything. In fact, it felt like most of his worries and concerns had ceased to exist...almost like he was in complete control for the first time in thousands of years...
Staring into Vahn's face, a serious expression developed across Sandora's as an intense heat permeated her body. She had intended to wait until their wedding night, but if Vahn was in the mood, there was no way she was going to refuse.
Sensing the changes he had triggered in Sandora's body, Vahn squinted his eyes as his smiling face developed a wolfish undertone. He wanted to respect Sandora's initial decision, but if both of them were willing, he saw little reason to delay things. After all, they had already crossed that line a long time ago.
"I want you..."
Following a shudder that emanated from her core, any thoughts Sandora had of waiting were promptly dismissed. It was pretty rare for Vahn to be the initiator, so she wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to experience 'being wanted' by the man she had willfully given her everything.
"Then take me...I'm yours..."
Squinting his eyes, Vahn's irises shifted from aquamarine to gold as he said, "You're also adorable..."
Without waiting for Sandora's response, Vahn pulled her legs so that she was straddling him. He could feel her body temperature skyrocket. As for what came next, only the bedroom, walls, and furniture were made privy...
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"You realize what you did wrong...?"
Though he had regained his luscious golden locks, Izayoi found himself at Asuka's mercy, hands bound and most of his power still sealed. In spite of this, he managed a daring smile as he answered, "I acted on my own and nearly did something incredibly foolish."
Nodding her head in approval, Asuka muttered, "It's good that you know." as she continued circling Izayoi's body with a pensive yet subtly beguiling expression on her face.
After circling to the front of Izayoi's body, Asuka 'surprised' him by hiking up her dress so she could take a seat on his lap. Then, with her hands and arms linked around his back and shoulders, she asserted, "We nearly lost everything today. I-"
Squinting his eyes, Izayoi interrupted what Asuka wanted to say, stating, "But we didn't. And now that we know our shortcomings, we can work to fix them. Don't get hung up on the past..."
Turning her eyes up at Izayoi, Asuka barely suppressed the urge to use her Authority to make him stay quiet. Instead, she quietly replied, "Trust me...it isn't the past I'm concerned about..."
As Izayoi raised his brows, various questions forming on the tip of his tongue, Asuka leaned forward and asked, "Have you noticed anything 'different' about our situation...?"
Taking a bit of the wind out of Asuka's sails, Izayoi asked, "You mean other than the fact you aren't wearing panties...?"
"..."
Sitting up straight, Asuka met Izayoi's gaze, her expression a pout as she complained, "Seriously...how did I ever fall for such a base and barbarous scamp...?"
Without missing a beat, Izayoi replied, "I imagine my roguish good looks and-"
Interrupting Izayoi's response, Asuka sealed his lips with an intense and passionate kiss. She had nearly lost everything she cared about in just a few short seconds. She hadn't, but the possibility was more than enough to annul any apprehensions about advancing the relationship between her and Izayoi. Besides, she didn't want to be the only person in her group of friends that was still a virgin...
Though he felt like Asuka was about to do something she would regret, Izayoi didn't say or do anything to stop her. As the day had proven, he was far from infallible. Vahn's overwhelming display of power had also left him feeling a lingering feeling of dread, so Izayoi wasn't going to refuse a chance to forget...even if only for a short while...
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After an 'eventful' night for all parties involved, Vahn, Sandora, Yo, Lily, Asuka, Izayoi, and the Earth Spirit Merun gathered for a late breakfast the following day.
Though Asuka had similar thoughts about every other girl at the table, Lily was the first to teasingly remark, "Asuka is looking particularly radiant this morning...did something good happen?"
Instead of responding to Lily's words, Asuka issued a dismissive harumph before subsequently failing to prevent a blush from spreading through her cheeks. What she didn't know was that everyone at the table could 'smell' the difference between her present and past selves. If she did, she would have had to excuse herself to stifle a series of screams.
Amused by Asuka's reaction, a soft chuckle emanated from Lily's throat as she remarked, "How cute..." with squinted eyes. This caused the blush on Asuka's face to become far more prominent, a condition made all the more severe when Izayoi chimed in to add, "No kidding..." with a teasing smile on his face.
Before Asuka could explode from embarrassment, Vahn stepped out of the kitchen, asking, "Anyone order the Aldrnari Empire's Special...?"
With all the focus shifting to Vahn, Asuka was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, her respite was short-lived as Vahn slid a plate of aromatic, perfectly cooked red rice in front of her and Izayoi, winking as he said, "Congratulations."
Burying her face into her hands, Asuka attempted to convince herself she was trapped in a nightmare. Instead, she found herself dragged back to her new reality as Yo supportively squeezed her hand and asserted, "I'm happy for you, Asuka! You too, Izayoi! Congratulations~!"
Unable to take it any longer, Asuka's face began to twitch like she was having a seizure as she exclaimed, "This isn't a suitable breakfast topic! And would you people please stop making it sound like I'm pregnant...!?"
Though Yo was more than a little surprised by Asuka's outburst, everyone else at the table either smiled or laughed. Even Izayoi was no exception, a lighthearted laugh emanating from his throat even as Asuka crushed his foot beneath the table...
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Following the nearly hour-long breakfast, the group split up for a short while before reconvening at the Chamber of Flames. Sandora had a few things she wanted to talk about, so she had asked them to gather there once they had washed up and calmed down.
"So? What's this about, chibi?"
Without minding Izyaoi's overly casual way of speaking, Sandora returned a friendly smile as she explained, "There are three things I wished to discuss. First and foremost, I wanted to thank the No Names for helping to resolve things without any significant incidents. Though we could have resolved things ourselves, things would not have ended so swiftly without your support."
Following her words, Sandora waved her hand to signal for the servants waiting in the wings to bring out several large chests filled with gold bars, a variety of gems, and a pair of gauntlets.
"Due to your affiliation with the Sage Dragon's Hearth, I can't imagine you have many financial issues. Still, Salamandra owes you at least this much for your services. Please accept them."
While it was true that they could receive practically anything they needed from Vahn, having a treasury and resources of their own was never a bad thing. Asuka, in particular, had a fondness for gold that nearly rivaled that of a Dragon. It wasn't for no reason that she had been blessed with a Gift that granted her Authority.
"Second is the matter of what to do with our captives. Vahn and I further discussed the issue last night, and he suggested turning over the Lesser Demons to the No Names. After all, you are the ones who defeated Weser and Ratten. Given the stipulations of the Gift Game, it is only natural they join the Community that subdued them."
Voicing the thought on nearly everyone's mind, Yo inquired, "What about Pest? It would be too tragic if she were separated from her friends..."
Maintaining her smile, Sandora revealed, "I have entrusted Pest to the care of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. While it is true that I was the one to defeat her, Vahn was the one who expelled Pest's demonic energy and prevented the plague from sweeping through the city. On the conditions that her friends' lives be spared, she has agreed to apprentice within the Sage Dragon's Hearth as a Maid."
"What a relief..."
Exhaling a breath she didn't even realize she was holding, a radiant smile developed across Yo's face as she directed her hazel-eyed gaze to Vahn. After learning about Pest's origins, Yo would be beside herself if anything terrible were to happen to the adorable but deadly Demoness. With Vahn taking control of the situation, Pest was in safe and reliable hands. At the very least, Yo couldn't imagine anyone more able and willing to help.
Understanding Yo's thoughts, Sandora supplied an approving nod before adopting an almost silly smile as she said, "Last but not least, I wanted to invite each of you to attend mine and Vahn's wedding ceremony as guests of honor. We're still working out the details, but it should take place within the next five days."
Seeing no reason to refuse, Asuka, acting as representative and Leader of the No Names, answered, "We would be honored to attend your wedding. In fact, now that we are in discussions to establish an alliance, it would be strange for us to refuse."
Giggling in response to Asuka's words, Sandora surprised nearly everyone present by waving her hand a second time. Instead of servants appearing with treasure chests filled with valuables, however, it was her brother who stepped out from behind one of the curtains flanking Sandora's throne. In his hands was a glistening golden scroll that exuded an immense amount of magical power, enough to make the hairs of everyone except Vahn and Sandora stand on end.
"Instead of an Alliance between Salamandra and the No Names, I wanted to recommend a Contract of Perpetuity between myself, the Floor Master of the Northern Plains, and the prevailing Leader of the No Names, Kudou Asuka. In simple terms, it is a contract of friendship that supersedes even the restrictions of certain Gift Games. In even simpler terms, it makes us honorary members of one another's Communities. If you make this public, I imagine it would provide quite a substantial boost to your Community's reputation..."
Though she was tempted to ask why Mandra's face and eyes were visibly swollen, Asuka just accepted the contract with a smile, stating, "You have done us a great service, Sandora. One I, and the No Names, will not soon forget."
Offering another light chuckle in response to Asuka's words, Sandora's expression lit up like the sun on a clear Summer day as she tittered, "Of course. That's what friends are for~!"
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Several days after the Pied Piper incident, nearly the entire population of Kouen City had gathered to witness the wedding ceremony between Vahn and Sandora.
Wearing a phoenix-like wedding dress, hand-crafted by Vahn himself, Sandora surprised the crowd of millions by appearing in her adult form. The top resembled a fiery red, form-fitting bodice that left parts of Sandora's neck, navel, and back exposed, while the bottom resembled ethereal flames with a subtle rainbow hue. The entire outfit was accented with gold, but, instead of ordinary gold, it was comprised of the same material as many Divine Weapons and Armaments.
When the crowd first saw Sandora appear, a stunned silence descended over the entire gate. She had always been very popular with the people due to her adorable appearance and hard-working nature. Many viewed her as the little sister of the entire Community, but, while some people were disappointed to see her suddenly appear as a breathtakingly beautiful woman, it wasn't long before the entire city was trembling due to their cheers.
Fortunately for the guests attending the ceremony directly, there was a very powerful barrier that muted sounds from the outside. Vahn could still feel the envy and hatred of a remarkable number of people, but that was nothing new.
As Sandora made her way up the aisle, escorted by her brother, a casual yet loving smile set across Vahn's face. He and Sandora had cohabitated for the better part of eight years, and this was far from his first wedding. He was still a little nervous, but it was nothing compared to Sandora.
With the gazes of millions of people directed at her, Sandora felt like her every action, despite being impeccably smooth, was robotic. Things got a little better when she laid eyes on Vahn, but her body was trembling with anxiety as she made her way up the aisle.
Since the ceremony was more of a performance than anything else, Sandora couldn't help using her telepathy to remark, ("I never expected this to be so nerve-wracking...")
Revealing a hint of amusement in his smile, Vahn proposed, ("If you want, I can create an illusion, and the two of us can observe from the side. Our Communities and the Central Network already regard us as husband and wife.")
Though the old her might have felt compelled to continue playing her part till the end, Sandora didn't hesitate to answer, ("Let's get out of here.")
With a subtle nod, Vahn separated himself and Sandora from the Principle Axis of Reality while simultaneously creating realistic, physical illusions of the two of them. Then, as the wedding progressed in the background, he swooped the lovable redhead up in his arms before promptly teleporting back to their room.
After breathing a sigh of relief, the tensions in Sandora's body relaxed as she adopted a slightly mischievous smile and asked, "Should we proceed to the honeymoon~?"
Adopting a wolfish smile of his own, Vahn drew his face and lips closer to Sandora's as he asked, "Is here okay, or would you like to go someplace else...?"
Though she would have been fine even if Vahn pushed her down in the middle of the aisle, Sandora didn't immediately respond to his words. The notion she could now go anywhere and do virtually anything crossed her mind as she drew her lips close enough to touch Vahn's. However, instead of kissing him outright, she replied, "I want to become stronger..."
Despite defeating Pest rather handily, Sandora wasn't even remotely satisfied. She couldn't even grasp the distance between her and Vahn, so even though she knew she was more than a little selfish, Sandora wanted Vahn to take her someplace where she could become much stronger.
Having anticipated Sandora's words, Vahn planted a lingering kiss on her lips before pulling away to explain, "There are two worlds I have in mind. The first is not dissimilar to the Little Garden, governed by a God of Play known as Tet. The second is a world ruled by sorcery and magic, a place where summoners have tapped into the very essence of creation to attain power comparable to the beings that created their world."
With a bit of a teasing undertone, Sandora inquired, "Which has the most beautiful women? Can you show me~?"
Smiling wryly in response to Sandora's words, Vahn created two displays in mid-air, one showing a surreal world known as Disboard while the other displayed a relatively normal-looking world known as Runeterra. However, while both worlds had powerful beings inhabiting them, Vahn believed the latter to be far more dangerous. In Runeterra, even Dragon Gods capable of producing stars could be trapped and ensnared by the powerful magics that governed that world.
Seeing the drastically different worlds depicted by Vahn, Sandora rolled her eyes before remarking, "If they are worlds you're familiar with, there must be people you've taken an interest in. Show me the girls."
Waving his hand, Vahn forced the displays to cycle through the various casts affiliated with each world. The world of Disboard was inhabited by races standard within fantasy settings, while the world of Runeterra was filled with so many unique and sapient races that it was nearly impossible to keep track of them all.
Though the aesthetics of both worlds were drastically different, Sandora could tell the world of Disboard was a bit more perverted than Runeterra due to how scantily clad most of the women were. There were many lascivious-looking women in the latter, but it seemed a heck of a lot more 'normal' compared to a world filled with chess pieces that penetrated the atmosphere.
Since she was a little fed up with how the Little Garden chose to settle everything through games, Sandora found herself increasingly drawn to the more naturalistic setting of Runeterra. She felt like she would have a lot more freedom to act there, so, after a brief period of deliberation, she nodded her head towards the display and said, "Let's go there. We could make a far more significant impact on a world wrought with conflict and strife. As enjoyable as Gift Games are, they get tiring after a while..."
Nodding his head in both approval and affirmation, Vahn held Sandora a little closer, drawing her Ego and consciousness into himself as he made use of his Actualization Innate. He still had to create vessels for himself and the people who wished to inhabit the worlds he created, but he had gotten a lot better at it. At the very least, he could prevent their original bodies from being destroyed during the transfer...
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Despite the immense danger involved, two little girls, roughly eight and nine years old, could be found crossing a rampaging river in pursuit of a bright, fiery blue butterfly. The eldest, a blonde-haired girl named Daisy Hastur, was the one chasing after the butterfly while her brown-haired stepsister, Annie, followed after, shouting, "Daisy! Wait! It's dangerous...!"
Ignoring her sister's pleas, Daisy, enchanted by the magical properties of the butterfly, simply giggled as she ran across the slippery, moss-covered stones spanning the river. She would usually be very cautious of the river, but the butterfly she was chasing was a type of pseudo-spiritual creature known as a Fae Willow. The dust from its wings was used to produce one of the most powerful hallucinogens in the world, but the thing it was most famous for was luring lost children to their deaths.
Though she and Annie had been warned to stay away from both the river and butterflies, Daisy was already captivated by the Fae Willow's spell as she ignored every danger to her life and tried to catch it. In response, the Fae Willow flittered to the edge of the most precarious rock before finally stopping in place and waiting for Daisy to try and grab it. When she did, it simply dispersed into thin air like a Will o' Wisp, the little girl's shock and momentum causing her to slip.
"Daisy...!"
Mustering strength and speed she didn't know she had, Annie practically flashed forward to grab Daisy just as the latter plunged into the rapids, screaming, "Annie...!" with renewed clarity.
Though she failed to grasp her stepsister's hand, Annie was able to extend her favorite doll, a stuffed teddy bear named Tibbers, just in time for Daisy to grab it. Unfortunately, she was nowhere near strong enough to oppose the force of the rapids. The most she could do was hold on as tightly as possible as Daisy, tears streaming down her face, cried, "Help! Annie, please...!"
"Just...just hold on! Help is coming...!"
As if to spite both of the desperate girls, the Fae Willow reappeared as the seams along Tibbers' body began to weaken and tear. It was a type of creature that dined on fear, and there was no fear more succulent than the despair of children facing their inevitable end.
Just as the Fae Willow contemplated exacerbating the situation, all thoughts ceased from its mind as a bronze-skinned hand suddenly closed around it. Immediately after that, the river seemed to freeze in place as a man with tanned skin, dark hair, and glistening green eyes scooped up the two girls, saying, "You shouldn't be playing out here by the river."
Though Annie was stunned by the appearance of the strange man, Daisy immediately clung to him, tears streaming down her face as she cried her heart out. She had never been more scared in her entire life, so she didn't even notice that the man was standing in the air or that the world around them was moving at a snail's pace...
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After saving the two damsels in distress and giving their parents a bit of advice, Vahn reappeared in a homely-looking tavern filled with swirling golden portals.
Noticing Vahn's return, the barkeep, a 93cm tall 'man' with large pointed ears and features reminiscent of a red panda, asked, "Off saving the world again?" as he continued cleaning a glass mug.
Returning a smile, Vahn asked, "When am I not?" before looking around at the emptied tavern and asking, "Where is everyone?"
Setting aside the glass, the mustached barkeep explained, "Corki, Teemo, and Tristana ported over to Bilgewater. Ever since the Harrowing a couple of months ago, a bunch of wraiths have been appearing to cause trouble. As for Lady Sandora and the rest, you would know better than me..."
"Right..."
Shifting his awareness to Sandora, Vahn was pleasantly surprised to find her napping at the base of a tree next to a woman identical to her in every way. Nearby, another woman, possessing purple-blue hair, large ears, and the centaurian lower body of a fawn, could be seen strumming a lyre with a contented smile on her face.
Waving to the barkeep, Vahn said, "See ya around, Jim." before vanishing into thin air. His appearance briefly startled the deer-like girl playing the lyre, but her nimble fingers never stopped strumming the lyre as she said, "Welcome back, Vahn. Have you come to use the Dreaming Tree or to see us?"
Before Vahn could answer, one of the Sandora's sprang up, shouting, "It's the Vahn~!" before pouncing on him. When she did, her form slowly gave way to reveal a slender woman with purple-pink hair that flared outward at the sides like oversized ears. There was bright pink plumage protruding from the crown of her head, but her most striking features were her large amber eyes, green sclera, the green scales covering various parts of her body, and the lizard-like tail protruding from her lower back.
With said tail curling around his body, much like the woman's legs, Vahn's expression became slightly wry as he said, "It's good to see you as well, Neeko. Have you been a good girl?"
Nodding her head with a bit of vigor, Neeko declared, "Neeko is always a good girl~!" before following it up by wiggling her hips and asking, "Is the Vahn going to give Neeko a reward~?"
Though it wasn't how he planned to spend the rest of his day, Vahn didn't hesitate to nod his head, answering, "Sure." before shifting his attention to Sandora and adding, "If your big sis permits it."
Before Neeko could pounce on her, Sandora rose to a seated position with a dream-like smile on her face as she replied, "Of course. What about you, Lillia? Do you want to join in...?"
Hearing Sandora's words, Lillia missed a few notes on her lyre, her oversized ears twitching as she sheepishly replied, "N-No...but thank you for offering..."
Since it was customary for Lillia to refuse her invitation, especially when Neeko was around, Sandora wasn't particularly surprised by her answer. Instead, she just stretched her body, issuing a long yawn in the process, before bouncing to her feet and saying, "Let's have fun."
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Staring out across their shared battlefield, a veritable sea of animal girl bodies, nearly a hundred different Vahn's couldn't help succumbing to a profound reverie. They had been fighting for so long that they completely lost their sense of time. However, in the end, it was not the horde of cute, beautiful, and incredibly enthusiastic girls that won out. No. Once again, it was the Sage Dragon Emperor that had emerged supreme.
"We did it..."
Hearing the soft utterance of their brother, the other Vahn's all nodded their heads in concert. Then, starting from the periphery, each began to disappear into thin air. In the end, only a single Vahn remained among a field of more than ten thousand panting, mewling, and twitching women.
Just as Vahn was about to begin his search for the original, one of the 'surviving' Sis Corps members nearest to his feet grabbed his ankle. He looked down to find a petite cat girl with hazy pink eyes and ashen grey hair that extended well past her lower back. He immediately recognized her as Kaya, one of the 'Nekomini Maid Corps' that had assailed him near the beginning of the battle. She was nearly identical to her twenty-seven sisters, but Vahn could tell each of them apart without issue.
Putting as much strength as she could manage into her grip, Kaya issued a euphonious, "Myaastah...don't go..."
"Still got a bit of fight in you, eh...?"
Though he risked setting off a chain reaction in the surrounding Sisters, Vahn waved his hand to levitate Kaya from the ground. She was a little on the small side, around 144cm, but he still drew her close and gave her an intense kiss as she locked her legs around him and willfully guided the tip of his glans to her steamy entrance.
Fortunately, though Kaya cried out with a cataclysmically loud mewl when she dropped her hips, Vahn was able to suppress the sound as it escaped her lips. A few of the surrounding Sisters began moving about and making sonorous noises, but that was primarily due to the 'resonance' caused by Vahn's Sex Divinity...
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After making his way through several other 'survivors', Vahn finally arrived at the epicenter of the cataclysmic battle, a large circular region occupied by a single slumbering figure with short black hair, tanned skin, and feline features.
Sensing Vahn's approach, the figure immediately stirred away, a dreamlike smile developing across her face as she teased, "Long time no see~? Oh my..."
Even before the cat-like woman had finished speaking, she found herself lifted into the air and supported by three nearly identical men. When they propped her up and spread her legs, she offered absolutely no resistance. Instead, she extended her left hand, willfully spreading apart her vulva to reveal a thin yet constant stream of lubricating fluids as she inquired, "Is this what you came for~?"
Without any hesitation, Vahn inserted himself into the woman in a single thrust. Her back arched as a silent scream emanated from her throat, but that wasn't enough to deter the four men surrounding her. Instead, they began to knead and caress every part of her body as the version of Vahn directly behind joined his counterpart in probing the woman's depths. He just took a very different route.
Feeling something hot and thick invade her rear, a giggle emanated from the woman's throat as she mewled, "Naughty boy...". Then, using her own version of the Hands of Nirvana, she began dexterously stroking the glans and shafts of the two Vahn's flanking her...
Breaking the woman's concentration, the Vahn in front of her leaned in as if he were about to kiss her. She eagerly extended her tongue to receive him, but before their lips could meet, he whispered, "You've been a very bad girl, Sis..."
"Eh...?"
Surprised by Vahn's words, a feeling of panic washed over Sis, her mind racing to understand what she had done wrong. Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as she was expecting. Following his words, Vahn brought lips close enough to touch hers as he added, "If I had known you were this lewd, I would have claimed every version of you years ago..."
Feeling a sudden and pleasurable heat spreading through her body, Sis became keenly aware of the fact that two of the Vahn(s) had inserted their rainbow-hued hands into her body. She could feel them caressing the literal core of her existence, her features rapidly shifting between her ten-thousand-three-hundred-and-thirty-nine offshoots as Sisters across the battlefield began to disappear.
"Vahn...wait...it's too much..."
Shaking his head, Vahn allowed his other selves to disappear as he fell with Sis against the pillowy surface of the bed-like realm she had created near the start of the 'battle'. Then, with his fingers linked through hers, he leaned close enough that his lips tickled the delicate hairs within her cat-like ears as he said, "No matter what happens, I will always love you...just as you have always been here to pull me back together, I will do the same for you..."
As her rapid transformations came to an end, Sis's body tensed as Vahn's mind completely blanked. His previously steady heart began beating like a drum in his chest as he asked, "Is this the 'real' you...?"
Pulling her hands from Vahn's, Sis hurriedly covered her face, furiously shaking her head as she insisted, "It's a misunderstanding! This is just the form closest to your heart...!"
While doing his best to suppress the shaking of his body, Vahn scanned the pale and petite woman pinned beneath him. She had short, somewhat messy auburn hair, a lithe body, and, before she had hidden it away, Vahn noticed that were a shade of leafy green set within a lightly freckled face. The only differences between her and the woman Vahn was imagining were her tiny horns, her pointed ears, the lion-like tail protruding from her lower back, and the reptilian scales covering her hands, forearms, calves, and feet.
Feeling a sudden and overwhelming urge to pull out for the first time in his life, Vahn nearly did exactly that until he noticed the tears escaping from beneath Sis's hands. His panic and confusion were immediately replaced by a feeling of guilt as he pulled her into his embrace before shifting to a seated position and hugging her as tenderly as possible.
"Shhshhshhhshhh...it's going to be okay, Sis. What did I just finish saying? No matter what happens, I will always love you. I was just...really, really surprised..."
After a fair amount of sniffling, Sis lowered her hands to reveal a pair of large, green, teary eyes. Vahn could feel his heart seize in his chest the moment they made eye contact, but he quickly suppressed any and all feelings of discomfort as he tentatively inquired, "This is just a form you adopted...right?"
Understanding Vahn's concerns, Sis sniffled a few more times before resting her forehead against his exposed chest and meekly replying, "It's difficult to explain...however, no matter how things might appear, I'm not your mother. It's just...there was a time when I really wanted to become her..."
With most of Vahn's memories being recycled through the Kaleidoscopic Wheel of Karma, the most prominent image within his mind at the time of Sis' creation was the memory of his mother. Vahn had actually been lying through his teeth when he claimed to have always wanted a big sister to take care of him. In truth, the one thing he had always yearned for, even after thousands of years of existence, was his mother's embrace.
Long before she had taken on the traits of people like Chloe, Sis had silently watched over Vahn in the guise of his mother. She would even visit him whenever he had nightmares, slowly weakening their influence over his mind by introducing Vahn's most significant source of comfort. This was the actual reason Vahn rarely dreamed back in the Record of Danmachi. Sis had actively suppressed them so that he wouldn't have a mental breakdown upon discovering her in the form of his mother.
Exhaling a breath he didn't even notice he was holding, Vahn surprised Sis by releasing her from his embrace, an indescribably affectionate smile on his face as he asserted, "You're so fucking adorable..."
"Eh...?"
Since it was pretty unusual for Vahn to curse, Sis was momentarily taken aback by his words. Before she could form any further thoughts, however, Vahn's hands suddenly slid down her body, firmly grasping her hips as he began to rock her in his lap. A shiver of pleasure ran from her core to the crown of her head, but, fearing Vahn would regret his actions, Sis shakily inquired, "Are you sure about this...?"
Letting a soft chuckle emanate from his throat, Vahn put a bit of force into his shallow thrust, eliciting a yelping moan from Sis as he said, "No matter what form you take, it doesn't change the fact you're still my beloved Big Sis. I won't lie. It is more than a little disconcerting, but, at the same time, I can't help feeling obligated to 'reward' you for being so cute..."
As his right hand made its way to the small of Sis's back, supporting her as he continued to hasten his movements, Vahn's smile gained a wolfish quality as he teased, "Besides...you're far from the first woman who has wanted me to call her Mommy..."
With her jaw and teeth clattering each time Vahn invaded her depths, Sis found herself wholly unable to respond to his words. Her emotions were going completely haywire, but none were more powerful than the feelings of love and devotion she felt towards the boy, no, the man sitting in front of her. She still intended to view him as her beloved little brother, but Sis knew their relationship would never be the same after this...
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After a surprisingly easy 'battle' against the Rattenfanger Community, Sandora, Yo, and Asuka watched as the 130 spirits slowly disappeared from the Little Garden.
"To think that the 'true legend' of the Pied Piper of Hamlin was something so mundane...tragic, but mundane..."
Though she was delighted to have acquired a new Gift in the form of a giant, seemingly indestructible red golem, Asuka couldn't help feeling a little empty inside. It turned out that the 130 children hadn't been killed off by a natural disaster or sacrificed by some demonic entity. They were simply a group of children who left home with the goal of forming a small community away from their oppressive parents. As for the cause of their deaths, it was entirely natural causes. Most of them had starved to death, while others had simply succumbed to the elements...
"At least with this, the matter has largely been settled. We just need to get out of here and inform the people they can return to their daily lives. After all, I'll arrange a commendation ceremony to make it known just how important a role the No Names played in the quick resolution of events. It will take a day or two to get everything organized, but it should give your Community a substantial increase in influence."
Regaining her smile, Asuka had to restrain the urge to give Sandora a big hug as she said, "I'm glad you're such a prudent person, Sandora. Let's be friends from now on, okay?"
Hearing Asuka mutter her trigger word, a radiant smile developed across Yo's face as she pulled together both girls and enthusiastically exclaimed, "That's right! From now on, the four of us will be the best of friends~!"
Though she initially smiled wryly in response to Yo's words, Asuka quickly noticed the discrepancy in her statement, asking, "The four of us? Do you mean Lily...?"
Answering in place of Yo, the tiny Earth Spirit hiding in Asuka's cleavage poked her head out, her mitten-like hands waving eagerly as she happily chimed, "Asuka~! Friend~! Friend~!"
Surprised that the tiny Spirit hadn't disappeared along with the rest of the Rattenfanger members, Asuka was briefly at a loss for words. In the end, however, she just accepted it as a good thing, smiling as she said, "Looks like Deen isn't our only new member. Welcome to the No Names...Merun?"
Tilting her head to the side, the diminutive fae pointed toward herself, asking, "Merun?" in an adorably confused tone. In response, Asuka just nodded her head, stating, "That's your name. We can't keep calling you Earth Spirit, now can we~?"
Though she didn't fully understand Asuka's words, Merun happily flew around the trio of girls, her voice a mixture of laughter and excitement as she sang, "Merun~! Asuka~! Merun~! Asuka~! Ehehehehehehe~!"
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(A/N: Bet no one saw that coming (O w O)...')

Chapter 2291: Resolution : Looking Forward